Christian Education

The Rev. Adam Spencer

Adam came to Saint Elisabeth’s after serving two years as Associate Priest for Pastoral Care at Saint Thomas Fifth Avenue in New York City.

He grew up in the suburbs of Cleveland, Ohio and graduated from Baldwin Wallace University in 2008 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Religious Studies. He formally began discernment of a vocation to the priesthood while serving as the Youth and Adult Education Coordinator and Dean’s Assistant at Trinity Episcopal Cathedral in Cleveland, Ohio from 2008-2012. He received his Master of Divinity degree at the University of Chicago Divinity School in 2016.

During his time at the Divinity School, Adam served as seminarian at the Church of the Atonement in Chicago and continued serving there after ordination as assisting clergy. He was ordained a transitional deacon in June of 2017 and a priest in June of 2018 at St. James Cathedral in Chicago. Before going to New York to serve at St. Thomas, Adam worked as Manager of Volunteer Services at La Rabida Children’s Hospital in Chicago.

Adam is a big fan of The Lord of the Rings, the Cleveland Browns, Ignatian spirituality, and the poetry of Mary Oliver. He and his wife Rose share the rectory with their cat Fawkes.

The Rev. Larry Handwerk

After over 50 years of ordained ministry, Larry has covered a lot of territory in church life. At St. Elisabeth’s he enjoys being among a group of people many of whom have that broad church experience as well. He also benefits from being with new church folk and seekers who keep him open to new perspectives. He has a passion for scripture, the interface between culture and religion, the 20’s and 30’s generation and pushing the boundaries of old and new. Outside of church, he enjoys reading, computers, travel, the arts, and his two grandchildren.